Srinagar: Coronavirus positive cases crossed the 100-mark in Jammu and Kashmir after 12 more tested positive in the last 24 hours, raising the J&K tally 106, an official said on Sunday.
On March 31, the number of cases stood across J&K at 52 and registered a spike in last five days to stand at 106 now. The Kashmir Valley reordered its first case on March 18 when a 67-year-old woman from Khaniyar Srinagar tests positive, two days after her arrival from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah. Nine days earlier, a 63-year-old woman with travel history to Iran tested positive for coronavirus in Jammu on March 9, making her the first confirmed case in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Total number of positive cases in J&K now 106,” Principal Secretary Planning, Information and Government Spokesperson, Rohit Kansal tweeted.
As per officials, out of these 106 COVID-19 patients, 86 are in Kashmir and 21 in Jammu. However, four of them have been discharged—three from Jammu and one (first COVID-19 patient) from Kashmir while two others died, leaving active cases at 100—82 in Kashmir and 18 in Jammu.
With spike in COVID-19 patients in Jammu & Kashmir, SKIMS said it was in co-ordination with government and other designated nodal agencies managing the pandemic through rigorous measures.
“The patient facilities are closely monitored and supervised by the COVID-Committee headed by Director SKIMS,” reads a statement issued by the SKIMS Soura.
The administration strategizes the facilities available in view of continuous influx of COVID-19 patients as per prescribed guidelines. “A continuous review of all the activities relating to COVID-19 infection is taking place on regular basis.”
The SKIMS informed that most of the patients are responding well to the treatment. “1st patient of COVID-19 Positive completed her hospital treatment and Isolation period and was discharged from Hospital on 01.04.2020, sent for Administrative Quarantine.” At the moment, it said, the therapeutic strategies to deal with this infection are only supportive and “prevention aimed at reducing transmission in the community is our best weapon.”
“It is our prime duty to protect one and all. The most effective way to do this is to avoid social contact as much as possible. Social distancing is a potent weapon to reduce transmission and fight COVID-19. It must be followed religiously,” it added.